Well, this morning it was kinda cold ( I don't know if that has anything to do with it), but my car just wouldn't start, it wasn't even cranking. I tried jumping it with my moms car because the battery was real low, and still I got nothing. I have been having alternator problems lately, but the car was running like a champ last night. Also I think if it was the alternator, it would still crank. I think its probably the starter solenoid since there was no clicking or anything even when I tried jumping it. Does this sound right or is there maybe something in the steering column or elsewhere that I should look at first?

 

Not sure if it could be any kind of ignition switch in the column... Did you try jumping the solenoid from underneath the car? (As scary as that is...) You should make sure the solenoid is dead before you go to replace it. If the solenoid isn't even engaging then your starter obviously isn't even getting power to crank your car, so a jump will do no good.... Problem is, GM's sell the starter AND the solenoid as one unit, so I don't know if you can find JUST the solenoid. If you do go to buy a new unit though, buy a REMANUFACTURED one, not a rebuilt. You might know this, you might not, but they're NOT the same. Rebuilt, they only fix what's not working, meaning something else could go out on you. I had a rebuilt starter installed in my V6 Camaro and like 4 months later, on Christmas Eve, the starter motor seized in a parking lot, and then the solenoid burnt out right after that.

 

Ok, so I went to start it again...was gonna try jumping the starter, but I tried with the key first, and it started right up. Is this a VATS thing then?
Could I have put the key in right where I could turn the cylinder but had a bad connection with the resistor, and then when I turned it, the VATS shut the car down for that 5 minutes or whatever.

 

Yep. If it does it again, look at your 'security' light. If it's VATS, your light will go on when you go to start the car.

 

Damien, I have been having the exact same problem. I bought a 89 Camaro RS about five months ago. According to the guy I bought it from he replaced the battery,& alternator. Some guys on the forum are saying the starter solenoid is getting heat soaked from the exhaust sys. I bought a heat shield from Jeg's recently. It is the one that wraps around the starter. I drove it everywhere with no problems until the other day. I went to the mall which is about 20 mins away. Parked her in the garage for about 10 mins. Got back in and it would not start again, this time it did click one time, and then nothing. I waited an hour and it started right back up like it never had a problem. They call this problem the 3rd Gen curse. Like one of our guys said if the security light comes on when you start it, check the VATS sys. some guys are just pulling the fuse to the VATS sys. I ordered a remote starter solenoid from Jegs. Some of our members say this will cure the heat soaked solenoid problem. If this does not work, Im getting rid of the 89. Good luck!

 

Well it must have just been a bad connection that one time with the VATS. I know it wasn't heat soaked cuz it hadn't been driven for about 9 hours and my cars has done the heat soak thing before

 

Yeah, I used to trip VATS frequently. My key was so bad that they COULDN'T make a duplicate. Their key reader read no key. Still started the car 98% of the time though.

If it does it give it like 5-10 minutes to reset and try again.